Agenda item

To consider a report by the Head of Legal, HR & Democratic Services (copy attached) about the application of political balance to the composition of Cabinet.

 

Councillor Barry Mellor, Chair of Corporate Governance Committee, introduced the report (previously circulated) regarding the application of political balance to the composition of the Cabinet.

 

On 23 October 2018, Council passed a Motion requesting Corporate Governance Committee consider options and present a report to Full Council on 19 February 2019.  The report was to outline how the Constitution could be changed to remove the requirement for political balance in the Cabinet.

 

The Corporate Governance Committee considered the options regarding the composition of Cabinet on 23 January 2019.  The Committee recommended that the requirement for political balance in the Cabinet be removed and that the “strong leader” model be retained allowing the Leader to appoint and remove members of the Cabinet.

 

At this juncture, Councillor Joan Butterfield requested a recorded vote.

 

The Head of Legal, HR and Democratic Services stated that at least one sixth of the members present would have to be in agreement with the recorded vote.  More than one sixth of those present stood in agreement to the recorded vote.

 

During discussions, the following points were raised:

·       It was reiterated that the Cabinet in Denbighshire was the only one in Wales with political balance. The system was working well as Denbighshire had been the best performing council for four years and if not the best, in the top quartile.

·       Currently every political party was able to be part of Cabinet but if the proposal were agreed, some groups could be excluded from Cabinet.

·       Members of two political parties did not sit on Cabinet as their national politics did not approve.

·       The number of members who had been in attendance at the Corporate Governance Committee was raised.  Even though the Committee had been quorate the numbers were depleted.

·       It was stressed that the quality of Leadership of the Cabinet was paramount and Denbighshire had a good strong Leader.

·       Currently members worked well together and aimed to deliver services to the residents of Denbighshire. 

·       Bringing Denbighshire into line with all other Welsh Councils had been the aim of the original Notice of Motion and it was confirmed that the Labour Group would continue to refuse the offer of seats within Cabinet if political balance were to be removed.

 

The Leader stated that Cabinet had worked well for the previous 10/11 years, and there was no reason to fall in line with the other 21 Local Authorities.  The way in which Cabinet worked was good for all Councillors and not just Cabinet members.  There would be risks if the political balance was  removed as some groups could take the lead reducing the need for workshops and working groups rather than working together.  There would be a fear that national politics would be more important than local politics which could damage the local council with community focus becoming more of a national focus.

 

Every individual within the current council was able to make decisions.  Denbighshire was a Local Authority that delivered local services to the local community.  There was a culture within Denbighshire of accountability, transparency and honesty.  If a group were to be influenced by national politics, the culture would change.  The focus needed to be on the community.

 

The Leader stated:-

·       He could not support isolating political groups

·       The council should not lose focus on our communities, and

·       He did not see this as a change for the better

 

At this juncture (11.05 a.m.) there was a 10 minute break for political groups to discuss the forthcoming vote.

 

The meeting reconvened at 11.15 a.m.

 

A recorded vote took place as follows:

 

In favour of removing political balance in Cabinet – Councillors Mabon ap Gwynfor, Brian Blakeley, Joan Butterfield, Jeanette Chamberlain-Jones, Ellie Chard, Meirick Lloyd Davies, Alan James, Huw Jones, Pat Jones, Gwyneth Kensler, Geraint Lloyd-Williams, Barry Mellor, Bob Murray, Paul Penlington, Peter Prendergast, Arwel Roberts, Glenn Swingler, Rhys Thomas, Graham Timms, Cheryl Williams, Eryl Williams, and Emrys Wynne

 

Against the removing of political balance in Cabinet – Councillors Ann Davies, Gareth Davies, Hugh Evans, Peter Evans, Bobby Feeley, Rachel Flynn, Huw Hilditch-Roberts, Martyn Holland, Brian Jones, Richard Mainon, Christine Marston, Melvyn Mile, Merfyn Parry, Peter Scott, Tony Thomas, Andrew Thomas, Julian Thompson-Hill, Joe Welch, David Williams, Huw Williams, and Mark Young.

 

In favour – 22

Against – 21

 

Therefore, it was:

 

RESOLVED that Council agreed the recommendation of the Corporate Governance Committee that the requirement for Cabinet to be politically balanced be removed from the Council’s Constitution and replaced with provision for the Cabinet to be appointed by the Leader of the Council.